About the Home Care Packages Program

About the Home Care Packages Program – By Interchange Australia Consultant, Anne-Marie Kennedy

The Home Care Packages Program helps older Australians with complex care needs to live independently in their own homes.

The Program is part of the Australian Government’s continuum of care for older Australians and is positioned between residential aged care and the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

What is a home care package?
Under the Aged Care Act 1997, the Australian Government provides a subsidy to an approved provider of home care to coordinate a package of care, services and case management to meet the individual needs of older Australians.

Individuals are assessed by a professional assessor using a nationally consistent assessment framework.

During the assessment process each individual’s priority for care is also determined.

Individuals approved for a home care package are placed on a national queue until a package becomes available and is assigned to them.

When care commences all approved providers must deliver home care package services under a consumer directed care basis.

What services are provided under the Program?
Home care package recipients are not limited to a basic list of services. Approved providers work with each of their clients to select services that best meet each individual’s care needs and goals.

Subsidy amounts and supplements
The Home Care Packages Program provides a subsidy towards the total amount of funds available under a home care package. Each level of home care package provides a different subsidy amount.
Supplements are also available to eligible approved providers of home care to meet individual needs.

Consumer Contributions
If personal circumstances allow, consumers are expected to make a financial contribution towards the cost of their care. A home care fee estimator calculator is available on the My Aged Care website for people starting a home care package from 1 July 2014 onwards.

More information is available on fees a consumer can be asked to pay (for those who take up a home care package on or after 1 July 2014).

Information about the current fees is available on the Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care.